Married

by Lola White

  “Damn it, Lovasz!” Muso screeched. “You said you would help me!”

  “He’s your Family. A Father should be able to handle his own troubles, unless, of course, he’s too weak to be Father.”

  Muso’s faced blanked as he stared at Silviu for a long moment. The Lovasz man stared back without expression or capitulation. The Ngozi Father shuddered, then his lids came down to shield his eyes.

  “Well, in that case,” he bared his teeth at Graves as the man turned back to him, “I am willing to consider giving my blessing to this match if you would be willing to give me what you owe.”

  Graves’ shoulders straightened. “I owe you nothing.”

  “Wrong.” Muso’s hand slammed against the table, rattling the glasses. “You owe me what you promised a decade ago. I will not allow this wedding to take place until you give it to me. How badly do you want an alliance with Daniel, Graves?”

  Graves’ rage rolled out over the ballroom. Tulah felt it beating against her temples, mingling with her own fear and anger. Charles became energized. His breathing turned rough, his hand snaked over his thigh to cover the front of his trousers. Nausea threatened to choke Tulah.

  Grave snarled. “You are a sick bastard, Muso. I agree with Lovasz, you are not fit to lead this Family. You ordered me to kill your own son, hoping to take his magic and grow beyond your limits.”

  Muso hurled his wine glass at Graves’ feet. “And you kept it for yourself, you thieving bastard! You stole it.”

  “I used it, too,” Graves purred. “I used it to rip out Joseph’s authority and claim this fucking branch as my own so I could take in enough power to lay you low.”

  Agony locked in Tulah’s chest. She’d witnessed her father’s death, had lived with the pain for more than a decade, but nothing could prepare her for such a callous admittance in front of so many strangers. She heard her mother’s low moan in the sudden stillness of the ballroom.

  “I am the Father!” Muso screamed. “You cannot best me.”

  “Try it,” Graves taunted. He shifted, took a step away from Constance and crooked his finger at his brother. Tulah eyed the walking stick, taking note of the tension in Graves’ fingers where they wrapped the staff.

  “I don’t need to try it, I only need to command it. Give me what you owe, what you promised, what I sacrificed for. If you don’t, this wedding will not take place and I will strip you of all authority. This branch will no longer be yours to rule, but Charles’.”

  “Trying to bribe my man to your side, brother?”

  Muso smirked. “He’s been my eyes and ears here since the beginning.”

  “And yet, it seems he’s kept some information from both of us.” Graves bent a murderous glare on Charles.

  “No matter.” Muso lifted a shoulder. “He performed the task I set for him.”

  The chief of security rose slowly, deliberately provoking. “It would be my honor to take this branch. You never fucking deserved it, Graves. You’re a fucking pussy, no better than a matriarchal man. You needed me to hold Joseph down while you killed him. Who do you have strong enough to hold me down?”

  Graves pointed with his stick. “You underestimate the enhancements to my magic.”

  Muso cackled maniacally. “Choose your prize, Charles. A reward for your service all these years, for your loyalty to me. It’s more than Graves has done, but then he’s a thief, a coward and a weakling.”

  “I claim the pet.” Charles snatched Tulah from her seat. He dragged her numb body in front of his so fast she couldn’t find her balance. His thick arm wrapped her, pulled her bottom tight to the erection he wielded like a weapon. He thrust against her, his hand sliding down her belly to press hard against the top of her mound.

  Tulah struggled without success. She twisted, kicked back at his shins. Ice froze her brain and time slowed so the moment was drawn out in incremental drips of fear and humiliation. But she knew the seconds were flying by, events piling on top of themselves before anyone could halt the runaway train.

  Muso leaned over the table and screamed in Graves’ face. “Give me what I want and I’ll give you what you want.”

  Desperation thrummed in Daniel’s voice. “Gentlemen, please. We must be rational!”

  No one listened. Graves hefted the stick and the emerald exploded with green fire. In the flash, Muso vaulted the table.

  Chapter Thirty

  Adam

  Adam rocketed from his chair the moment Charles hauled Tulah to her feet. Strong hands gripped him, muscled arms tried to hold him back. A green explosion had his captors staggering. Adam fought free of the weakened hold, roaring over Muso’s screams and pushing blindly against the human barriers that stood between him and his woman.

  Rage engulfed his skull like fire. His heart sizzled in his chest, his blood pumped painfully as electric currents coursed through his body. Another flash of green stole Adam’s sight, but not his determination. He pushed through the panicked crowd as they rose en masse and headed for the door.

  A body knocked into him, but Adam shoved it out of his way, catching sight of white tuxedo tails at the edges of his crimson-washed vision. He heard a roar, a scream and a snap of furious magic. Pressure poured over him, popped in his ears and clutched his head. He pushed through it while casting his own spell, intent on reaching Tulah.

  He tripped over a chair, kicked it out of his way. A cold spear of air passed in front of his face, the tingle of magic racing by. Some Ngozi witch stumbled into him. Adam shoved him and another witch caught the man, throwing him onto a table. Adam danced out of the way of the fight and forged onward.

  He used his magic to forcibly part the crowd before him and saw Tulah fighting a futile battle against Charles. Another Ngozi held her struggling mother, pulling her away from the table as she scratched and clawed at his arms until blood welled and splattered the white tablecloth. Adam flicked his fingers and sent a spell spinning in their direction.

  Charles twisted Tulah’s hair around his hand and threw her against the table. He pressed close, leaning over her back as his hand disappeared between their bodies. Adam screamed from the depths of his soul, raw denial ripping from every pore as he crashed around the tables.

  The bastard would rape Tulah, right there in the ballroom, surrounded by war and panicked crowds, just to stake a false claim before Muso rescinded the offer.

  Tulah bucked, her head rising, wet caramel eyes locking with Adam’s in an eloquent plea. Her mouth moved and she winced. She jerked and struggled, making it hard for Charles to hold her down and fumble with his pants at the same time. Magic flew from Adam’s palm.

  It gave him enough time to reach her. Adam dove over the table to catch Charles’ braids but then slid off, crashing to the floor without releasing his anchor. Charles’ head whipped back, his leg collapsed. Tulah spun away toward freedom.

  Adam surged to his knee and pounded a fist into the man’s iron jaw. Charles snarled and shook it off. The Ngozi was bigger, brawnier, the perfect enforcer for someone of Graves’ criminal mindset, but Adam was quicker and his magic was stronger.

  He used everything at his disposal. Energy shot from his palm to smash into Charles’ chest. The big man arched against the floor, teeth bared, eyes mere slits. A spell blasted out at Adam, taking him back to the floor.

  He jumped up and kicked out but Charles swiped at him. Adam hit the floor again. He lifted his foot a second before the other man’s weight crashed down on him and caught Charles in the stomach. Air rushed from the man’s chest in an explosion of spittle. Charles hadn’t been prepared for the blow.

  Need and vengeance, determination and self-worth were all on the line. The image of Tulah’s face, soft with satiation, her sinuous movements beneath his thrusting body, only added to Adam’s intent. The connection between them spurred him on. The stark lines of her features etched with fear every time Charles spoke to her whipped him into a frenzy.

  Adam would kill the fucker.

  Magic poured fro
m him in heated waves. Charles snarled and growled, his body shaking as he staggered back. Adam climbed to his feet, circling the man, looking for an opening. His opponent spun and raised his hands into a defensive boxing position.

  Charles didn’t seem to want to fight with magic. Most witches did. Adam dodged a fist and kicked out, drawing on a lifetime of serious combat training. He let his power flow down to the tips of his toes.

  Charles went down and Adam took quick advantage, pinning him to the floor with a hasty spell. Adam swung his head, searching for Tulah. She weaved through the fleeing crowd, nearly swallowed in its tide while trying to maintain her stance as she watched Adam fight for her. Her face was twisted into lines of horror, her gold dress was crushed, torn and spotted with Charles’ blood. Adam felt the skin over his cheekbones pull tight under a new swell of fury.

  He swung in the other direction. Muso and Graves were battling it out magically. Muso had a bloody nose, Graves’ lip was split, a red stream running over his chin to stain his torn tuxedo lapel. But Muso was slowing, losing his battle against Graves’ onslaught.

  Daniel rushed around them, commanding them to stop. He stepped between them and was brought low by some spell. His body convulsed, anger and pain lighting his eyes and baring his teeth.

  Adam felt the wind stir at his back. Charles. Adam ducked and spun, snapping back into his warrior focus. Adam would die before he let Charles find victory.

  He slammed a fist into the other man’s stomach, but Charles was prepared. Adam’s knuckles met the solid rock of tensed muscle and pain spiraled up to his elbow. Ignoring it, he sent a bolt of magic spinning into his opponent’s body.

  Charles’ face folded into lines of determination. His eyes flickered and glowed. His hands clenched rhythmically and a massive tendon popped out on his neck.

  Adam felt the magic rising in his opponent. It was a hint of unfamiliar heat against the inferno of Adam’s own fury. He knew Charles must have realized that he couldn’t win physically, so he’d switched tactics. Adam was confident of his superiority in that sphere. With a flick of his pinkie, he sent the Ngozi man staggering back.

  Before Charles could regain his balance, Adam spun behind him. With no remorse or hesitation, Adam grasped his opponent’s head. Braids slid over his knuckles like snakes as Adam twisted with every bit of strength in his arms. Magic erupted from his palms and something snapped in Charles’ neck.

  Adam let the body fall to the floor.

  Tulah threw herself into his arms immediately. Adam hauled her close, hands running over her as he evaluated the expression in her eyes. Fear and relief, a heart-wrenching combination. He looked beyond her. Only moments had passed, the guests were still jamming the doorway on their mad rush out. He looked closer, willing the berserker haze to ebb from his senses, and noticed the amassed escapees were all Levys.

  Around him, Ngozis were fighting themselves.

  “Get out of here, Tulah.” Adam barely recognized his own voice, the thrill of battle still humming in the deep tones.

  She shook her head, clutching at his neck. “I can’t, they’re trampling each other. I saw two people go down and they haven’t gotten back up.”

  He needed her away from the fight, safe from the danger. His sanity demanded nothing less than total protection. “Change form, honey. Be a cat and slip past them all.”

  “My mother—”

  Adam scanned the room. Tables were overturned, candles were tipped over as their flames guttered. Flowers littered the floor, trampled by the stampede. Silviu was across the room, blocking the press of Ngozi marauders from Madeleine who leaned against a wall, pale and wilted.

  Georgie fought by their table, defending Margaret as the crowd struggled to push past. His cousin threw punches while Christiana pulled their aunt back. Ileana and Eliasz were pressed spine to spine, Ileana’s arms around Tulah’s mother as her betrothed smashed a chair over someone’s shoulder.

  “Over there.” Adam set out across the ballroom with Tulah tucked under his arm.

  They only made it a few steps when Graves rolled past them. In a flash, he was on his feet and sailing through the air to crash into his brother. Magic formed a dangerous cloud Adam was forced to retreat from. Muso cursed and the room wavered with his spell. Graves held on to the other man and screamed.

  Dark light flared out around Graves in a malicious halo, twinkling with jewel-toned flickers. Muso arched, teeth clipping his bottom lip before he melted to the floor. Still locked on the Family Father’s shoulders, Graves followed.

  Muso was only dazed. He fought to his knees, shaking his head. Graves pushed himself to his feet, hunched over and stumbling as he reached for his fallen walking stick. He lifted it like a bat and swung, the muscles of his biceps bulging through his tattered shirt.

  Muso dove out of the way. The emerald struck the floor. Wood cracked, chips flew in every direction. A percussion of magic followed, shaking the room and pitching Adam and Tulah off balance. He grabbed her arm and dragged her across the dance floor at top speed.

  Adam crashed to a stop in front of his cousin. “We need to get out of here.”

  She barked a bitter laugh and swung out at an approaching Ngozi. “Have you seen the door?”

  He pushed Tulah toward her mother and yelled at them both. “Change and get out of here!”

  Her mother immediately dissolved, slipping through Ileana’s arms. Tulah stared at him with wide eyes filled with denial.

  “Go, Tulah!”

  Ileana grabbed Eliasz’s shirt and nodded toward the door. “The crowd’s not thinning, they’re in too much of a panic. We need to clear the way.”

  Eliasz’s lips twisted but his jaw firmed. He looked to his left, and Adam followed his gaze to see Silviu fighting to help Madeleine cross the floor. The old woman stumbled against the wall, clutching at a banner for balance. “We’ve got to get her out of here,” Eliasz said.

  Georgie looked around. “Eliasz, clear your Family from the door. Adam, get Margaret and Chris out. Then I can help Silviu without worrying about all of you.”

  Adam backed up and nodded at Tulah. “Change, honey, please. Get out of here.”

  Fear darkened her eyes as she clutched his shoulders. “I won’t leave you.”

  “Yes, you will.” He pushed her to his side, naturally looking toward Georgeanne for further instructions.

  His cousin’s eyes widened, her mouth dropped. She jumped at them, pushing them both with a strength born of pure adrenaline. Adam lurched back, blindly snatching at Tulah as she went flying.

  Georgie landed in front of them with her arms outstretched. Dark magic slammed into her tiny frame, driving her back a foot. Immediately, she burst into flame the color of tar and twinkling with rubies.

  She was consumed in the blaze.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Georgeanne

  Darkness swallowed her. The universe went silent around Georgie, cutting off the screams of the wedding guests and the curses of the Ngozi Family. All she saw were flickering ruby lights, all she heard was her own heartbeat.

  Agony ripped through her as her skin peeled off one layer at a time. Her blood boiled and evaporated. Her muscles shriveled and caught fire. Her bones were reduced to ash under the awesome pressure of dark magic and her Bane imperviousness couldn’t protect her. She knew with terrible certainty that she couldn’t withstand the onslaught.

  The silence was shattered by a spine-shaking scream. Rage, pain, indescribable fear—the sound roared and built higher, dragging on and on through her chest until it became a physical sensation and Georgie thought it would bring her to her knees. The sound echoed and rebounded in her skull as gold light spiraled up from the depths of her soul and wrapped around her.

  The awful sound was the full fury of a Reap witch.

  The Bane shield within her snapped like a rubber band. Vibrations shook her from the inside out while something hard and hot in her core shifted and swelled, then latched on to that primal scream and so
aked it up. The Bane imperviousness fortified itself with the raw emotion threaded into that scream and grew strong enough that Georgie glowed with a hot, golden radiance that rivaled the sun.

  The dark magic catapulted off the Bane shield and shot out of Georgie’s body. She felt a fierce tug deep in her center and it sent strength winging through her. She filled up like an empty vessel, but she didn’t know what filled her. She was remade, even as the darkness faded and the room returned.

  Adam caught her as she fell back. Georgie looked up into his face as she struggled for breath and saw the shock riding him. The scream continued to roll around her, taking the shape and cadence of her name. Slowly, she turned her head, surprised by the pulse of pain in her neck.

  Though he stood protectively in front of her grandmother, Silviu stared at Georgie with wide eyes, the promise of death flowing from his tense body in tangible sheets of magic.

  Muso and Graves were statues. Daniel stared between her and Silviu, sweat rolling down his temples, a blue line of shock surrounding his lips. His throat worked, his eyes were blank. Constance huddled behind the head table with her parents.

  Everyone else had come to a complete halt, frozen where they stood, trembling with an all-consuming fear. Total silence rooted the crowd. Glittering nets of magic traced the hollows of knotted muscles until every quivering witch in the room glowed. They’d been paralyzed in the act of obeying primal instincts, clutching at each other in a futile bid to find safety in numbers, their faces contorted into masks of terror and disbelief.

  Silviu had shown his strength, and it was boundless.

  “Fuck,” Adam breathed.

  “It—” Georgie cleared her throat and willed her vocal cords to cooperate, “would have hit Tulah.”

  “It would have killed her.” Adam’s voice was slurred and slow.

  “Get them out of here.” Georgie pushed upright, swaying as she fought for balance.

  “Did you hear him scream?” Adam shook his head, fear-filled eyes locked on Silviu. “There was magic in it. In a fucking sound. More than I ever thought a single witch could possess.”